History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 54

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1066

USA > West Virginia > Kanawha County > Charleston > History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens > Part 54

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Frederick Brooks and wife had seven sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to matur- ity. Five married and four of them had large families. All seven are now deceased, together with their wives. The subject of this sketch

WALTER B. BROOKS

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is the only one of their descendants now resid- ing in Charleston.

William Chauncey Brooks, the second son and child of Frederick and Frances Brooks, was born in Loudon county, Va., in October, 1820. He was educated for the law at Princeton col- lege, but later became a salt maker, in which occupation he continued for many years. He became the owner of two boats, the "Blue Wing" and "Blue Ridge," that carried salt to Louisville, Ky., where he did a large business as a commission merchant and spent an active life, until his death in Kanawha county, near Charleston, September 30, 1881. He was a Whig in his political principles, but never cared to be called either a Republican or a Democrat. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church and often spoke in meeting.

William Chauncey Brooks was married in Charleston to Lavinia Virginia Patrick Brig- ham, who came of a family resident in Virginia for many years but which came originally from Boston, Mass. Her father, William Brigham, settling in Kanawha county, became interested here in salt making, at which he made a fortune. William Chauncey Brooks gave employment to a large number of people and at his death 2,000 salt makers and employes followed him to the grave in funeral procession-a notable con- course for those days in this locality ; and show- ing the great respect in which he was held.

William Brigham's daughter, Lavinia, who became Mrs. William C. Brooks, was born in Kanawha county, W. Va., in 1825, and died in Denver, Colo., in October, 1894. She and her husband were the parents of thirteen chil- dren, seven of whom died in infancy. The others were as follows: (1). Walter B., whose name appears at the head of this article and who will be further referred to herein. (2). Aletha B., now deceased, who was the wife of Charles Small, of Denver. She left two children, Lavinia and Charles. (3). Fan- nie, who became the wife of B. J. James, of Denver, Colo. She and her husband have an adopted child, Phebe Janis. (4). William is a mine owner residing in Mexico and has been very successful there. He is unmarried. (5). Nona is unmarried and resides in Denver. (6). Henry F. is also a resident of Denver, Colo.,

where he is connected with a large manufac- turing company. He married Lulu Mc- Namara, belonging to a prominent family of that city. They have no children.

Walter B. Brooks, whose nativity has been already given, was educated in a college at Louisville, Ky., in which place he afterwards engaged in the tobacco business, remaining thus occupied for five years. He was then for ten years connected with the salt manufacturing industry in Kanawha. At the end of that time the business had become unprofitable and he re- engaged in the tobacco business at Danville, and also at Greenborough, N. C. After seven- teen years more spent in this manner, he came to Charleston, of which city he has since been a resident. He is executor of the Dr. Hale estate, and secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Rosin Coal Land Company, owning 1800 acres of land adjacent to this city. He has been a magistrate of Charleston but is independent in politics. Both in Danville and Charleston he has served as an elder in the Pres- byterian church. He was married at Mays- ville, Ky., to Mary E. Blatterman, a cultured and well educated young lady, who was born in that city, a daughter of George W. Blatterman and his wife Elinor, the latter in maidenhood Elinor P. Collins, daughter of Judge Lewis Collins. Her father, George W. Blatterman, was born in London, Eng., ninety-one years ago, and is still living, now residing with his daughter, Mrs. Brooks. For one of his years he is remarkably well preserved and is still men- tally active. His wife, Mrs. Brooks's mother, died eight years ago at the age of seventy-six years. She came from an old . Kentucky family.

Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are the parents of six children, as follows: (1). George B., born June 17, 1877, is an accountant residing in Charles- ton; married Mary Hasell McCoy of Wilming- ton, N. C .; no issue. (2). Edward S., born August 25, 1878, died in infancy. (3). Elinor Collins, born November 21, 1880, is unmar- ried. (4). William Chauncey, born February 9, 1883, died in infancy. (5). Walter Booth, born March 26, 1884, is now with Cabin Creek Consolidated Coal Co. (6). Goldsborough R., born November 22, 1887, died in infancy. Mrs.

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Brooks and her surviving children are affiliated religiously with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Brooks is a Free Mason, belonging to the Com- mandery.

ANDREW C. CALDERWOOD, gen- eral contractor and builder at Charleston, W. Va., of which city he has been a resident since the spring of 1881, is vice president of the City National Bank and was one of its incorporators. Mr. Calderwood is of Scot- tish birth and ancestry and the thousands who yearly make the pilgrimage to the birthplace of Robert Burns, in Ayreshire, Scotland, doubtless pass the little cottage. a few miles distant, in which he was born, March 12, 1856. His parents were James and Mary (Kerr) Calderwood, both natives of Ayreshire, where the mother died in the prime of life and the father survived to the age of eighty-four years. Of their seven children, six survive and five of these still live in Scotland.

Andrew C. Calderwood learned his trade under the supervision of his father, who was also a contractor and builder, and before Andrew was of age he had become superin- tendent of large contracts in his native sec- tion.' He was ambitious and after succeed- ing so well in his own country felt that in America, where better labor conditions pre- vailed and larger opportunities could be found, he could undertake still greater tasks. After considerable preparation he left the shores of Scotland for the United States, taking passage on a steamship, the Achovia of the Anchor line which took 8 days to make the trip, Mr. Calderwood land- ing safely in the city of New York. From there he went to Baltimore, Md., where he was engaged for some months and came from that city to Charleston, having been engaged to work on the construction of the State Capitol building. He was given a position of authority as superintending fore- man, and before the completion of that con- tract he had determined to make this city his home and had commenced the building of the Kanawha Presbyterian church. He built also the Roman Catholic church, the

Ruffner Hotel and innumerable private res- idences and many public buildings and the time has come when the volume of his busi- ness amounts to more than $100,000 an- nually. His reputation as builder is by no means confined to Charleston but extends all through the state. Mr. Calderwood is justly proud of his success, it having been honestly won. He is especially proud of the fact that in the larger number of his con- tracts at the present time he is given carte blanche, his reputation for business integrity being well understood. He is an active and public spirited citizen, a supporter of honest civic government and a promoter of educa- tion and religion.

Mr. Calderwood was married to Miss Belle Wilson, who was born and reared at Charleston, a daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Neal) Wilson, both of whom were born in the Kanawha Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Calderwood attend the Presbyterian church. He belongs to Kanawha Lodge No. 20, F. & A. M., Chapter and Commandery at Charleston and is also a Shriner. He is identified also with the Odd Fellows and with other local organizations. In politics he is a Democrat.

FRANK WOODMAN, who is interested in and also officially connected with many of the great industries which make Charleston, W. Va., a point of considerable business im- portance, has been a resident since 1875. He is of New England ancestry, but was born at Mineral Point, Wis., September 26, 1846, a son of Cyrus and Charlotte (Flint) Woodman.

Cyrus Woodman and wife were both born in Maine, of old Puritan stock. A graduate of Bowdoin College and an able member of the bar, Cyrus Woodman seemed particularly well fitted to enjoy and take part in the intellectual life of the East, but in early manhood he turn- ed his back on these surroundings and, as a pioneer, ventured into the West, locating in Illinois, where he lived for many years and then moved to Wisconsin. In the latter state he subsequently entered into partnership with C. C. Washburn, later a member of Congress and governor of Wisconsin, in purchasing and de-

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veloping lands. After the close of the Civil War, however, he returned east and settled at Cambridge, Mass., where the remainder of his life was passed, in most congenial surround- ings. His death occurred in 1889, his widow surviving him.

Frank Woodman was sixteen years old when his parents removed from Wisconsin to Mass- achusetts, and following this removal he was afforded exceptional educational advantages. During a visit of three years made by the fam- ily in Germany and France, he was instructed in the languages of those countries. After three years at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H., he entered Harvard College, where, in 1869, he was graduated with the degree of B. A., acquiring other degrees in the course of years. He then entered the Cambridge Scientific School and studied civil engineering, afterward spending three years in practical work on rail- roads in the northwestern part of the country. In 1871, Mr. Woodman returned to Europe, where he visited many sections and also per- fected himself in civil engineering by taking a course in the great polytechnic school at Paris, France.

In 1875 Mr. Woodman chose Charleston, W. Va., as his home, immediately investing and identifying himself with the city's varied in- terests. To name all the successful enterprises with which he is connected would be to recite those which are of major importance to this section. He is president of the Vulcan Iron Works; president of the Donaldson Lumber Company, of Monroe County; secretary and treasurer of the Kanawha Woolen Mills and of the Daveley Furniture Company, and is also connected with the Kanawha Brick Com- pany.

In 1884 Mr. Woodman was married to Miss Nannie Cotton, a daughter of Dr. John Cot- ton, a well known physician of Charleston. They have two children, Ashton Fitzhugh and Charlotte. The family residence is No. 1210 Kanawha Street, Charleston.

MAJOR JOHN MOULTON, who is a resident of South Side, Charleston, W. Va., and for years a prominent citizen of Kanawha County, in which he served for six years as a

member of the board of county commissioners, is a veteran officer of the great Civil War. He was born in 1835, in Oxford County, Me., and is a son of John and Jane (Coffin) Moulton, both of whom spent their long lives in the Pine Tree State and survived to be eighty years of age. Major Moulton was the third born in a family of three children, both his elder broth- ers, James C. and Moses S., being now de- ceased.

John Moulton attended both public and pri- vate schools and when he reached maturity went to the State of Minnesota, where he lived for twenty years. In June, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, as a private in the 2d Minn. Vol. Inf. and continued in the army during the war, at the close of which he held the rank of major. He then resumed his lum- ber interests in Minnesota and remained there until 1876, when he transferred his business to West Virginia and continued active until 1901, when he retired.

Major Moulton married Miss Ella V. Shee- ley and they had three children: Arthur and Annie, both of whom live in North Carolina ; and Roscoe, who is deputy county clerk, his father having previously been county clerk for four years. In politics Major Moulton is a Republican. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.

OTIS COLWELL BLAKE, for a number of years was a well known citizen of Charles- ton, W. Va., identified with the city's business interests, and prior to his death was connected with the Bradford-Noyes china store. He was born November 24, 1858, in Fayette County, W. Va., and died at Charleston, July 24, 1904. His parents were McDowel and Lizzie (Win- sor ) Blake.

Both the Blakes and Winsors are old fami- lies of the state, generations of the Blakes hav- ing lived and died at Hill Top, in Fayette County. McDowel Blake and wife are both deceased but a sister of Mrs. Blake survives, Mrs. Minerva (Winsor) Richards, who is the wife of William Richards, of Oak Hill, W. Va. They are probably the most venerable of all the residents of this section, Mrs. Richards being ninety-one years old and Mr. Richards

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being one year older. They are members of the Christian church and both are actively in- terested in all that goes on in the neighborhood despite their advanced age. A large family was born to McDowel Blake and wife, of which the late Otis Colwell Blake was one of the in- termediate members. Those who still survive are: Thomas, who is a substantial citizen of Fayette County ; Edgar, who is in the contract- ing business and lives in California; and Mrs. Mintie Brown, a widow, who resides at Cin- cinnati.

Otis Colwell Blake was married at Charles- ton to Miss Ella Rand Means, who was born in this city, March 10, 1859, and was reared and educated here; and with the exception of an absence of eight years in Fayette County, following her marriage in February, 1883, Mrs. Blake has spent her whole life here. She is the only daughter of Joseph and Fanny (Craig) Means, natives of Kanawha County. Mr. Means was a well known business man of Charleston. During the Civil War he was a Unionist in his attitude on public questions, and was always a highly respected citizen. He married Fanny Craig, who was born in Kana- wha County in 1845 and still survives. They had two children: William and Ella Rand. William Means was born in 1861 and died in 1898. He was a stationary engineer and fol- lowed his profession at Charleston. In poli- tics he was a Democrat and he belonged to the fraternal organization, the Red Men. He never married.

To Mr. and Mrs. Blake three children were born, namely: Gaston, who died at birth; Mil- dred, who was born in June, 1884, at Hill Top, W. Va., and is the wife of Stephen Harmon; and Allan McDowel, who was born in Octo- ber, 1887. He was educated at Charleston and lives with his mother. He is an energetic and succesful young business man and is agent for an automobile company.

The late Otis C. Blake was reared on a farm in Fayette County and when he came first to Charleston he followed the carpenter's trade and later became a salesman for the above named china company. He was identified with the American Mechanics. In politics he was a

Republican. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, always active in its work, and his widow and children belong to the same religious organization.

WILLIAM HUBBARD GOODWIN, general merchant and representative citizen of Malden, W. Va., was born in this place, April 16, 1872, and is a son of George A. and Sarah E. (High) Goodwin, both of whom are living and are highly respected people of Malden. The father was born in Rock- bridge County, Va., and came to Kanawha County in 1871, with the C. & O. Railroad, where he shortly afterward was married to Miss Sarah E. High. They have four chil- dren: William Hubbard; Cammie, who is the wife of H. O. Ruffner; Hall G .; and Anna, who is the wife of H. J. Harbey, of Charleston.

William H. Goodwin learned the car- penter's trade with his father after he had attended the public schools and his first business position was a clerkship in the Pioneer Coal Company's store at Dana Sta- tion. He then took a business course at Staunton, Va., after which he returned to Malden as clerk for E. L. Rooke and later, in partnership with this employer, opened up a general store at Cedar Grove, Kana- wha County, subsequently selling his inter- est and coming back to his birthplace. In May, 1910, he bought his present store building from Wallace Averill, put in a first class stock and has been quite prosperous, being numbered with the successful business men.

In September, 1894, Mr. Goodwin was married to Miss Lottie L. Scott, a daughter of James and A. E. Scott, and they have one child, Gladys R. Mr. Goodwin is an active citizen and is particularly interested in the public schools. He served four years on the Board of Education and was reelected and served as president of that body for four years more. He is prominent in several fra- ternal orders, belonging to Lodge No. 87, Knights of Pythias at Malden, and has been deputy grand chancellor; and has been col- lector of wampum, in Lodge No. 26, Red

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Men, also at Malden. In politics he is a Democrat.

SOLOMON LOEWENSTEIN, who founded in Charleston, W. Va., the hard- ware and saddlery business now carried on by his sons, Isaac, Joe and Abe, was born in 1834 near Berlin, Germany, and came to America in 1860, locating at Columbus, Ohio. At the time of the Civil war he en- listed for service in the Union army, as a private in the 23d Ohio Vol. Infantry, and was honorably discharged after a military service of three years. He then came to Charleston and opened a harness shop, hav- ing learned his trade in Ohio, and conducted the business alone until 1890, when he took. his two elder sons, Louis and Moses, into partnership, and the business developed into a wholesale and retail hardware, harness and saddlery concern. In 1903 the eldest son, Louis Loewenstein, died at the age of thirty-five years. He left a widow, Ida (Hananer) Loewenstein, who now resides in Pittsburg, Pa. The father and other son continued the business until 1909, when both died and the younger sons succeeded, these three brothers being Isaac, Joe and Abe the present proprietors of the business. They have a dozen men on the road, besides numerous other employees. The business, which is very large and is both wholesale and retail, utilizes five floors and a basement at Nos. 223-225 Capitol Street, Charleston.

Mrs. Solomon Loewenstein, whose maid- en name was Henrietta Fecheiner, was born in Ohio, of German parents, and was mar- ried to Mr. Loewenstein at Cincinnati, Ohio. She still survives and makes her home with her sons. She has three married daughters, namely: Amelia, who married Samuel Hess and resides at Charleston, hav- ing one son, Morton; Mamie, also a resi- dent of Charleston, who married David Bear and has two children-Howard and Louis; and Bella, who is the wife of Arthur Isaacs, of Columbus, Ohio.

SIDNEY S. STAUNTON, M. D., a well known member of the Kanawha County medi-

cal profession, who is engaged in practice in Elk District, was born August 2, 1846, at Elli- cottville, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and is the son of Jacob Galusha and Julia A. ( Pres- cott) Staunton.

John Warren Staunton, the grandfather of Dr. Staunton, was a native of Massachusetts and the son of a Revolutionary soldier, and at the age of eight years he began to help support his father's family. Later he located in Catta- raugus County, N. Y., where he became promi- nent in public matters and served for sixteen years as county clerk. He was married to Sa- rah Brewster, who was descended from Elder Brewster, of the Mayflower. Jacob Galusha Staunton was born on the old family homestead in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and at the age of eighteen years began teaching school, in the meanwhile carrying on his studies for a legal career. He was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one years, but on account of ill health was compelled to embark in another oc- cupation and chose the lumber business, with which he was identified until twenty-four. Later he became interested in the real estate business and was made manager for a large concern, but in 1858 he closed out his interests and came to Kanawha County, where with his brother, Dr. Joseph Marshal Staunton, he en- gaged in the manufacture of Cannell coal oil. During the Civil War, Mr. Staunton became interested in the transportation of meat, and was one of the first promoters of the coal stor- age system of transportation at Buffalo, N. Y., and also during the latter years of his life, evinced much interest in inventions and patents. His death occurred in July, 1887. He was a member of the Episcopal church. He was a stanch Whig, and later an Independent, and some of his speeches are still held in public memory, although he never cared for office and on one occasion declined the nomination for Congress. In August, 1845, Mr. Staunton was married to Julia A. Prescott, who was born June 21, 1826, at Plattsburg, N. Y., a daugh- ter of Alexander H. and Lucinda (Herrick) Prescott.

Sidney S. Staunton was but twelve years of age when he entered the office of his uncle, Doctor Jonathan Brewster Staunton, and after

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completing his education, at the age of eigh- teen years entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo under the preceptor- ship of Dr. Sanford Eastman. After his father's failure, he was thrown on his own re- sources, and during his last year in college kept books in order to pay his expenses. In 1866 he commenced practice as assistant to his uncle, Jonathan Brewster Staunton, and in 1868 he came to Kanawha County, W. Va., and lo- cated at his present home, where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, in conjunction with operating a farm, to the pres- ent time. He has also been somewhat inter- ested in the lumber business. For a full gen- eration Dr. Staunton devoted himself to a hard country practice, but at the end of forty-five years of such work, with increasing age and diminishing strength, he is gradually relin- quishing active practice, and devoting more time to domestic and social duties, to reading ; and to the writing of reminiscences and fiction, a pastime of which he is very fond. He is a member of the State and County medical asso- ciations. In political matters he is a stanch Republican, and served as justice of the peace of the county court, from 1873 to 1877, and was appointed to fill a vacancy as county com- missioner during the years from 1887 to 1889.

On February 19, 1872, Dr. Staunton was married to Miss Mary Lucinda Staunton, the eldest daughter of Dr. Joseph Marshal and Mary Elizabeth (Wilbur) Staunton, and to this union there have been born the following chil- dren: John Galusha, who is engaged in busi- ness at Charleston-Kanawha; Julia Lee, who married Madison T. Davis, Jr., president of the Kanawha Mine Car Co., and has two chil- dren, Sidney Prescott and Madison Thenton; Mary Marshal, who married E. A. Palmer, a shoe merchant, and has one child, Mary Eliza- beth; and Warren Brewster, who is in the in- surance business, and resides at Charleston- Kanawha.

JAMES N. CARNES, cashier of the Citi- zens National Bank of Charleston, and inter- ested additionally in a number of other busi- ness enterprises in Kanawha County, also in

Colorado and Ohio, is a representative business man of this city. He was born at Lancaster, Ohio, in 1858, and is a son of Arthur and a grandson of Col. Robert Carnes.

The Carnes family is of Scotch-Irish origin and the name of Carnes appears among the Scottish and Irish nobility, being particularly prominent before the Restoration. In more re- cent times, Lord Carnes, Scotch-Irish noble- man, was a member of Parliament. Col. Rob- ert Carnes, the grand father of the subject of this sketch, came to America from Ireland about 100 years ago, settling in Fairfield Coun- ty, Ohio, where he spent his subsequent life on a farm. In his native land he married Nancy Stewart, an admirable woman in his own sta- tion of life, who lived to be quite aged. Nine children were born to them, of whom Arthur, the father of James N. Carnes, was the young- est. All the sons became farmers, with the ex- ception of James, who was a military man and was killed at New Orleans during the Civil War.

Arthur Carnes, who followed an agricul- tural life, died when he was about forty years of age. He was a man of sterling character and religious temperament and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. He married Caroline M. Miller, a daughter of Martin and Annie C. Miller, who came direct from Germany, their native land, to Fairfield County, Ohio, in which locality Mrs. Arthur Carnes still resides-at Lancaster, O., bearing well her weight of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of three children-Anna, El- len and James N. Anna, who married W. H. Keller, is now deceased. Ellen resides with her mother at Lancaster.

James N. Carnes was offered excellent edu- cational advantages, including a business course at Painesville, Ohio. Prior to April, 1879. when he came to Charleston, he was engaged in business in his native state. After remov- ing to Kanawha county, he became associated with George Davis, a well known citizen in the hardware business and their business relations continued until failing health made it necessary for Mr. Davis to remove to Colorado. Mr. Carnes then came to the Citizens National

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 54

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 1066

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1066